page_title: Emmett O'Donnell Jr.
section_title: Post-war
hierarchical_section_title: Emmett O'Donnell Jr. / Biography / Post-war
caption_attribution_description: English: GEN Emmett O'Donnell, Jr.. Original in color. NARA Citation 342-B-12-32-1-KE-11403
context_page_description: General Emmett E. "Rosie" O'Donnell Jr. was a United States Air Force four-star general who served as Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Forces from 1959 to 1963. He also led the first B-29 Superfortress attack against Tokyo during World War II.
context_section_description: O'Donnell piloted one of three specially modified B-29s flying from Japan to the U.S. in September 1945, in the process breaking several aviation records at that date, including the greatest USAAF takeoff weight, the longest USAAF nonstop flight, and the first ever USAAF nonstop Japan–U.S. flight. The aircraft, all piloted by generals, used up too much fuel fighting unexpected headwinds, and they could not fly to Washington, D.C., the original goal. They decided to land at Chicago and refuel, then continue to Washington, where they all received Distinguished Flying Crosses.
  After the war O'Donnell was assigned to the Air Technical Service Command (later Air Materiel Command) Headquarters at Wright Field where he served as deputy chief of the Engineering Division. He remained there until August 1946 when he was made director of information of the Army Air Force. O'Donnell was promoted to major general in February 1947.
  In September 1947, after the U.S. Air Force headquarters was established, he was designated deputy director of public relations. In January 1948 he was appointed steering and coordinating member of the military representation on the Permanent Joint Board on Defense, Canada-United States; the Canada-United States Military Cooperation Committee; the Joint Mexico-United States Defense Commission; and the Joint Brazil-United States Defense Commission.
caption: 1959 portrait
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